Mehreen Kakwan first emailed me a couple of months ago to simply ask if I could be listed as a resource for her new book on apraxia, “Billy Gets Talking.” I asked to read the book and she sent me a PDF version, in which I was instantly hooked.
I don’t just say that lightly either….
I get a lot of pitches in my email to review or promote a product, but honestly I have to feel it in my soul to promote it because I know what it is like to be a parent and to grasp or buy anything you think will help.
Last apraxia awareness day, I was searching for a book I could read Ashlynn’s classmates that was simple, yet accurate enough to understand her life as a kid going through speech therapy. This book would have been perfect.
However, I knew this book was gold when I trialed it on a client of mine. She has and continues to endure a lengthy battle with her ability to speak. I read her this book and she was enthralled. She hung on every word. When I was done, I asked her if she could relate and she enthusiastically nodded her head in agreement.
As a mom to a child with resolving apraxia, and as a speech/language pathologist specializing in apraxia, I highly recommend this book! You can enter to win a free giveaway below!
If you are like me, when your child was first diagnosed with apraxia, you turned to every source of information you could find, credible or not, just eager to gobble up any and all information on apraxia. Heck, I’m an SLP and I did this!
That’s why I wrote my book Overcoming Apraxia. Though the book is a narrative story about our journey to overcome childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), it is also packed with information and resources for professionals as well.
I think for me, though, my favorite books are always ones that inspire hope. Actually, these are probably my favorite stories too. I’m always looking for hope, because sometimes, in the middle of the struggle, it’s so easy to get discouraged. I started his blog as a way to spread awareness and I found both hope and awareness the day I met Ronda Rousey.
Not only was that moment and press coverage amazing, but honestly her book is full of inspiration and overcoming adversity that is chalk full of great quotes. Knowing she had apraxia as a child is the icing on the top. (Note this book does NOT directly talk about apraxia. That was uncovered after she wrote the book). To see that story go here.
This year I went to the apraxia conference, and saw Kate Hennessey, a young woman who had grown up with apraxia, speak in front of all of us. She co-wrote the book “Anything but Silent” with her mom. You can read my review here, but again, this book is full of inspiration! Definitely one of my faves! I devoured it.
About two years ago, I was wishing for a book that explained childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) to children to use for classrooms or even in therapy with the child diagnosed with CAS. My wish came true with the book “Billy Gets Talking.” Written by an SLP, it’s an easy to read but powerful story with beautiful drawings that help explain the CAS journey in child terms.
The same author of “Billy Gets Talking” Mehreen Kakwan, also wrote “Let’s Get Talking” as an introduction to help professionals target apraxia in early internvetion. It’s a great starting place for early intervention SLP’s to learn how to pick simple, functional targets and incorporate visual and verbal cueing as well as specific feedback.
Written by two apraxia experts David Hammer and Cari Ebert, “The SLP’s Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech” is a MUST have! This manual is full of definitions, resources and my favorite, therapy ideas!
I haven’t personally read “Waiting for a Voice,” but a few of my readers said it was good. It’s written by a mom who has a child with verbal dyspraxia, which is the term they use for Childhood Apraxia of Speech in the U.K.
“Here’s How to Treat Childhood Apraxia of Speech” is a technical book geared more toward SLP’s. It’s written by an apraxia expert Margaret “Dee” Fish who gives talks and conferences nationwide. It was recently updated too. It’s a good manual for learning where to start.
“Not What I Expected: Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children,” is written by a neuropsychologist who offers advice and hope for parents dealing with the emotional challenges they face. This is on my book list. It was a finalist for “Books for a Better Life Award,” and some readers said they found it very helpful and comforting.
Have a book you think should be listed? Comment below!
